Address of Speaker of the House of Representatives at Inauguration of Colloquium on Government Bill 02.23 on the Civil Procedure Code Given on His Behalf by Deputy Speaker, Rep. Mohammed Ouzzine

The Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives organized on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, a Colloquium on Government Bill 02.23 on the Civil Procedure Code. 

On this occasion, Deputy Speaker of the House, Rep. Mohammed Ouzzine, gave the following address on behalf of the Speaker of the House Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami. 

“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, 

Esteemed Minister of Justice, 

Honorable colleague, Chairperson of the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Committee, 

Esteemed Barristers, Professors, and Attorneys, 

Esteemed Directors, 

Honorable fellow Parliamentarians, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

I am honored to take the floor in the inauguration of the proceedings of this Colloquium organized by the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Committee on the Government Bill on the Civil Procedure Code, on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, who failed to be with us because he is on an official mission abroad. I would also like to covey to you his interest and the interest of the Board of the House in this Colloquium, his wishes for its success, and his hopes that it would culminate in the adoption of a text we all agree on. 

The organization of this Colloquium falls within the scope of the integration and dialogue approach adopted by the House of Representatives when examining bills and questions that touch a large scope of society. This approach would result in a general consensus regarding these texts and facilitate the efficient implementation of their provisions. 

However, this approach is not new; instead, it is an anchored Moroccan tradition of integrating broad consultation regarding the major societal questions, including the structural legal texts that greatly impact social, economic, and cultural relations and dealings. 

The 2011 Constitution has anchored this approach through entrenching, via several of its articles, the approach of integration and consultation in drafting, implementing, and evaluating public policies. 

There is no doubt that the diversity of participants in this Colloquium and the nature of institutions and elites taking part in it will make its conclusions a lever for adopting a high-quality text and a basis for a more efficient implementation. In this respect, I believe the participation of the Ministry of Justice, represented by the Minister and several directors, the representatives of judicial professions, and several former and current barristers, professors, researchers, and attorneys, alongside several members of the House of Representatives, can only be beneficial and have a major positive impact with regard to assimilating the text and deeply understanding its provisions. 

Esteemed Minister, 

Honorable Chairperson,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are today dealing with a central text in the national legislation, which, in addition to the traditional objectives of every text, seeks to ensure the proper functioning of justice, enshrine the unity of the judiciary, regulate international jurisdiction, achieve judicial efficiency, protect the rights of litigants, adopt digitalization in litigation and procedures, and, of course, anchor the independence of the judiciary, as stated in the introductory memorandum to the Government Bill.

It is a bill that encloses various fundamental stakes that fall within the context of the significant reforms led and sponsored by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him. In addition to safeguarding human rights through fair trial, guaranteeing the rights of all parties, ensuring the execution of judgments, and speeding up procedures, this text will have positive repercussions on the investment climate in our country by making it more attractive and enhancing the confidence of investors in it, given that it already possesses an advanced and open legal arsenal in the field of investments regulated by the National Charter, which is highly important as you are all aware.

I do not need to recall the crucial importance of legislation in the extent to which a country attracts investments. However, we should always remember that we are facing fierce international competition in terms of attracting investors and capital. Indeed, our country, confident of the constitutional and institutional reforms it has adopted and is adopting, and enjoying a satisfactory international position and the confidence of the global community in its policies and the sustainability of what it is achieving under the leadership of His Majesty the King, may Allah assist him, is making decisive steps in establishing confidence in institutions at the internal and external levels by reforming the justice system and enshrining the independence of the judiciary. 

We should be reassured in this regard because justice reform, in particular, enjoys peculiar Royal attention, as His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, emphasized when he added to the “new concept of power” the establishment of “a new concept of justice reform, namely the judiciary in the service of the citizen.”

I am certain that the diversity of the participants in this meeting and the intersection of visions and approaches that will be presented during this Colloquium will enrich the national public debate on a central code to which all spectra of Moroccan society aspire. It will also allow us, as members of the House of Representatives and legislators, to have a closer look at the concerns of professionals after listening to all stakeholders. 

I wish you success in your proceedings and thank you for your keen listening."